Ball control is what makes the game feel easy. It’s what lets you bring down a long pass with one touch, dance through defenders in tight spaces, and stay calm even when pressure is breathing down your neck.
Players who have great control don’t force the game; they guide it. The ball stays close, always within reach, and everything looks smoother, sharper, smarter.
That kind of control doesn’t just show up one day. It comes from hours of work. Not just at training with your team, but on your own, when no one’s watching.
In your backyard, on a quiet street, at the park, or in your room with a small ball and limited space. That’s where touch is made. That’s where your feet start learning how to move like they’ve got minds of their own.
So, if you want to level up, you’ll want to practice drills that sharpen your touch, speed up your footwork, and make the ball feel like part of your body.
Below are 10 of the most effective ball control and footwork drills that will help you do exactly that.
1. Juggling

It’s simple. It’s addictive. It’s harder than it looks. And it teaches you so much about timing, rhythm, balance, and the way the ball reacts to every part of your body.
How to do it:
- Start by gently dropping the ball from your hands and kicking it upward with the top of your foot.
- Don’t go for power. Just enough height to control your next touch.
- Try alternating feet. Once you’re steady, add in your thighs, then your chest, then your head.
- Keep your knees bent and your body relaxed.
- Let your arms help you balance.
- Set small goals. 5 touches. Then 10. Then 20.
Try this: Juggle only with your weaker foot. Try heading it up as many times as you can. Or kick the ball high and control it with one touch when it comes back down.
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2. Wall Passes

What you give it is what you get back. If your pass is clean, the rebound is friendly. If your touch is heavy, it lets you know.
How to do it:
- Find a sturdy, flat wall. No windows nearby.
- Stand a few steps away and pass the ball using the inside of your foot.
- As it comes back, control it with a soft touch.
- Reset and pass again.
- Keep it going. Set a rhythm.
Try this: Use your weak foot only. Try passing with your laces. Add in one-touch passes. Mix in high passes to work on controlling the ball with your thigh or chest.
3. Target Practice
This one’s about focus. You’re training your mind as much as your feet. Pick a spot and go for it.
How to do it:
- Choose a target on the wall. A crack, a brick, or tape works.
- Back up a bit. 5–10 meters.
- Line up the ball.
- Step in and strike it with the inside of your foot for accuracy. Use your laces if you’re going for power.
- Adjust based on where the ball lands. Feel what your foot did.
Try this: Dribble before you shoot. Pass to the wall, control it, then aim at the target. Or take a first-time shot straight from the rebound.
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4. Heading

Heading isn’t just about jumping high. It’s about timing, control, and confidence.
How to do it:
- Toss the ball up gently or bounce it off a wall.
- Keep your eyes on it.
- Time your jump. Use your arms for lift and balance.
- Meet the ball with your forehead. Aim, don’t just smash it.
- Land softly, ready for your next move.
Try this: Aim for different spots. Go for soft touches and firm headers. Practice directing it left, right, up, or down.
5. Dribbling Through Cones

You want the ball to feel like it’s part of your foot. Dribbling through cones helps with that. It’s also just fun.
How to do it:
- Line up cones or any small objects in a row.
- Start slow. Use soft touches to weave through.
- Use both feet. Inside. Outside. Laces.
- Keep your head up as much as you can.
- Once you’re steady, pick up the pace.
Try this: Use only your weaker foot. Use only the outside of your feet. Set a timer and try to beat your own speed.
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6. Toe-Taps
You’ll feel this one in your legs. But it builds rhythm, control, and foot speed.
How to do it:
- Keep the ball still.
- Tap the top of it with the sole of one foot, then quickly switch feet.
- Stay light on your toes.
- Try to keep a rhythm. Tap-tap-tap-tap.
Try this: Move around the ball in a circle while tapping. Count how many you can do in 30 seconds. See if you can beat it.
7. Rollover Dribble
This helps you feel the ball under your sole, which comes in handy more often than you think.
How to do it:
- Stand with the ball in front of you.
- Use the sole of your foot to roll it sideways.
- Stop it with the other foot and roll it back.
- Repeat. Keep it smooth.
Try this: Dribble through cones using only rollovers. Or try dragging it backwards while stepping back. It takes coordination and control.
8. Inside Out
This move’s all about quick, sharp control. It helps when you’re trying to skip away from a defender.
How to do it:
- Push the ball to the side with the outside of your foot.
- Use the inside of the same foot to pull it back in.
- Repeat with the other foot.
- Make it one smooth motion.
Try this: Speed it up. Add a toe-pull instead of the inside tap. Keep the ball close the entire time.
9. The Cruyff Turn
Clean. Clever. Timeless. The Cruyff turn helps you change direction and shake off pressure.
How to do it:
- Push the ball slightly forward.
- Act like you’re about to shoot or pass.
- Then quickly pull the ball behind your leg using the inside of your foot.
- Turn your body and go the other way.
Try this: Do it faster. Do several in a row. Imagine a defender and escape them with the turn.
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10. The L Cut
Drag the ball back. Push it to the side. Turn your hips. It’s a slick little move that works in tight spaces.
How to do it:
- Place your foot on the ball.
- Drag it back and then across your body.
- Use the inside of your foot to push it into the new direction.
- Repeat with the other foot.
Try this: Increase your speed. Perform it for 2 minutes nonstop. Picture a defender lunging in and pulling the ball away.
11. Wall Pass Drag Backs
This takes wall passes to the next level. You add a turn. A change of direction. A bit of craft.
How to do it:
- Place a cone a few yards from the wall.
- Stand on one side of the cone. Pass the ball to the wall.
- Control the rebound.
- Drag the ball back behind the cone and flick it across.
- Shuffle over. Set up again.
- Keep switching sides.
Try this: Keep it going for two minutes. Work up to three rounds. Focus on smoothness, not speed.
12. Speed Weave
Now bring it all together. Footwork. Touch. Sprinting. Agility.
How to do it:
- Set up a zigzag of cones.
- Dribble through them, tight and clean.
- When you finish, pass the ball ahead.
- Sprint through your ladder (or marked area) with high knees.
- Pick up the ball and go again.
Try this: Time yourself. Add a challenge. Beat your best run.
You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to keep showing up. Every touch matters. Every step, every pass, every awkward mistake is part of getting better.
Make space in your day for these drills. Stay curious. Stay gritty. And let the ball be your best teacher.
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